Sports ball, bat, and associated methods

ABSTRACT

A sports ball for use in baseball-type games includes a hollow, substantially spherical plastic ball that has a plurality of substantially planar, intersecting regions covering an outer surface thereof. Preferably the ball also has a weight that is substantially less than a weight of a regulation baseball, for enhancing safety in use. The sports system further includes a bat for use with the ball, or with any similar ball, preferably a plastic ball. The bat is a hollow, elongated member that has a handle portion adjacent a bottom end and a barrel portion between the handle portion and a top end. The bat further has a sheath surrounding at least a portion of the barrel portion. The sheath has a coefficient of friction higher than a coefficient of friction of a surface of the barrel portion, for imparting “traction” to a struck ball.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional applicationSer. No. 15/792,177, filed on Oct. 24, 2017, which is a continuation ofU.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 14/824,748, filed on Aug. 12,2015, which is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser.No. 12/869,142, filed on Aug. 26, 2010, which is continuation-in-part ofU.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 11/189,331, filed on Jul. 26,2005, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.60/599,180, filed Aug. 5, 2004, the contents of which applications arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sports balls and bats and methods forconstructing same, and, more particularly, to such balls and bats foruse in baseball-type games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Regulation baseballs are heavy and potentially dangerous to gameparticipants and to surrounding objects. Plastic balls are known in theart that are hollow and have apertures (e.g., the “Wiffle” ball).

It would be desirable to provide a sports ball that is both safe and yetsubstantially retains the aerodynamic characteristics of a regulationbaseball.

It would also be desirable to provide a bat for use with such a sportsball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is directed to a sports system thatcomprises a ball for use in baseball-type games. The sports ballcomprises a hollow, substantially spherical ball that has a plurality ofsubstantially planar, intersecting regions covering an outer surfacethereof. Preferably the ball also has a weight that is substantiallyless than a weight of a regulation baseball, for enhancing safety inuse.

Another aspect of the invention is directed to a sports system, whichfurther comprises a bat for use with the ball, or with any similar ball,preferably a plastic ball. The bat comprises a hollow, elongated memberthat has a handle portion adjacent a bottom end and a barrel portionbetween the handle portion and a top end. The barrel portion has asurface having a striking sector, the striking sector having acoefficient of friction higher than a coefficient of friction of anadjacent surface sector of the barrel portion, for imparting “traction”to a struck ball.

A brief discussion of a possible explanation for the behavior of thesports ball of the present invention will now follow. It is to beunderstood that this explanation is not intended as limiting on thestructure of the invention.

The sports ball of the present invention has been shown to provideincreased speed and distance. It is believed that the intersectingsubstantially planar regions of the ball help to minimize drag when theball is in motion by creating “turbulent airflow” that “sticks” to thebaseball slightly longer than would be the case for a smooth ball. Thisin turn creates a smaller air “separation region” behind the ball (airvacuum), which minimizes drag and maximizes speed and distance. This isbelieved to be similar to the effect of the dimples on golf balls.

The sports ball of the present invention also provides improved curvingproperties. It is believed that the intersecting regions create natural“ridges” at each intersection line, which makes the ball effective at“deflecting” air to the side when the ball is “spun.” The fact thatairflow is deflected sideways as the ball is spun and in forward motionmeans that there is an equal and opposite force acting on the ball thatpushes the ball in the other direction (curve).

The features that characterize the invention, both as to organizationand method of operation, together with further objects and advantagesthereof, will be better understood from the following description usedin conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expresslyunderstood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration anddescription and is not intended as a definition of the limits of theinvention. These and other objects attained, and advantages offered, bythe present invention will become more fully apparent as the descriptionthat now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a sports ball, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ball of FIG. 1 along line 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a bat for use with the ball ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a sports ball, according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an opposite side perspective view of the sports ball of FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a sports ball, according to afurther embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a sports ball, according to anadditional embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is directed to asports system that comprises a sports ball 10 for use in baseball-typegames. The sports ball 10 comprises a hollow, substantially sphericalball. The ball 10 may comprise a plastic material, although this is notintended as a limitation.

The ball 10 has a plurality of substantially planar, intersectingregions 11 covering an outer surface 12 thereof. In some embodiments theregions 11 may be slightly concave or convex without departing from thespirit of the invention. The regions 11 may be either regular orirregular, and do not have to conform to a specific pattern. Alsopreferably the ball 10 comprises a sufficient number of planar regions11 to remain substantially spherical, meaning that the ball 10 willstill bounce and rebound in a manner similar to a spherical ball, suchthat the bounce and rebound are predictable upon striking subsequentcontact with another surface. Essentially, any difference in the angleof bounce and rebound will be visually imperceptible, with “visuallyimperceptible” meaning visually imperceptible to the unaided vision of ahuman watching live in real time.

Through experimentation, it has been found that the ball 10 of thepresent invention travels faster and farther than similar products, andalso curves more. However, the aerodynamic characteristics are closer tothose of a regulation baseball than to a Wiffle ball, in that baseballspins can be imparted. Since the ball 10 is lighter, safety is enhanced,and also the ball 10 curves much more than a regulation baseball withouthaving to be thrown as hard. In fact, with sufficient backspin, the ball10 can rise in flight.

Another advantage is that the planar regions 11 allow for a better grip,also enhancing the amount of spin that can be imparted. Preferably theball 10 also has a weight that is substantially less than a weight of aregulation baseball, for enhancing safety in use.

Referring to FIG. 3, the sports system of the present invention furtherincludes a bat 20 for use with the above-described ball 10. The bat 20comprises an elongated, hollow, lightweight element having a standard“bat” shape, including a handle portion 21 and a “barrel” (hitting)portion 22. In a particular embodiment, at least part of the barrelportion 22 is surrounded by a striking sector comprising a sheath 23that imparts greater traction to a ball 10 when hit than other known batsurfaces. The sheath 23 has a coefficient of friction greater than anadjacent surface sector 24. Alternately, the striking sector can bebuilt or molded into the bat. In either case, it is preferred that thestriking sector 23 have a more resilient surface than the adjacentsurface sector 24. In a preferred embodiment, the sheath 23 comprises arubber material, although this is not intended as a limitation.

The bat 20 of the present invention is usable with other balls besidesthat 10 of the present invention, and confers cost, safety, and usageadvantages over other bats of the prior art. For example, plastic ballstravel farther when struck with the bat 20, because of increasedbackspin created when the ball is properly struck. The hitting surface23 of the bat 20 provides traction between the ball 10 and the bat 20and grips the ball 10 at the point of impact to spin the ball at ahigher rate than do other known plastic bats. Such backspin created froma properly hit ball creates loft, which carries a ball a greaterdistance.

In addition, there is a synergy between the ball 10 and the bat 20 ofthe present invention, wherein the intersections 13 between planarregions 11 can be gripped effectively by the striking sector 23.

Even if a ball is struck in a non-ideal manner, the sheath 23 stillgrips the ball better, resulting in a more efficient transfer of forcebetween the ball and bat 20. If a typical plastic baseball is not hit atits exact center, a portion of the bat's force is lost on the ball owingto slippage, particularly when a plastic ball is struck by a plastic batsurface, thereby resulting in “lazy” fly balls or weak ground balls. Thebat 20 of the present invention, however, preserves some of the forcethat would otherwise have been lost, and allows the batter to hit theball harder even if the ball is not struck at an ideal angle.

The bat 20 also delivers a longer ball because of its added weight overknown plastic bats. Additionally, the bat 20 of the present invention isadvantageous because the striking sector 23 serves to protect thebatter's hands by acting as a shock absorber if a ball is not struck inan ideal manner.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, according to another embodiment of thepresent invention, a ball 110 has a plurality of planar regions 111forming an outer surface 112 thereof. Preferably, the ball 110, like theball 10, is substantially hollow. Preferably, there are 72 planarregions 111, including 60 hexagonal regions 111A and 12 pentagonalregions 111B. A raised seam 113 extends generally around a circumferenceof the ball 110 between borders of a portion of the planar regions 111.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, referring toFIG. 6, a ball 210 has a plurality of planar regions 211 forming anouter surface 212 thereof. Preferably, the ball 210, like the balls 10and 110, is substantially hollow. As with the ball 110, there arepreferably 72 planar regions 211, including 60 hexagonal regions 211Aand 12 pentagonal regions 211B. A raised seam 213 extends generallyaround a circumference of the ball 210 between borders of a portion ofthe planar regions 211. A plurality of concave divots 214 are formed inthe outer surface 212. Preferably, one divot 214 is generally centeredin each of the planar regions 211. The depicted divot 214 is generallycircular, although the present invention is not necessarily limited to aparticular divot shape.

For instance, according to an additional embodiment of the presentinvention, referring to FIG. 7, a ball 310 has a plurality of planarregions 311 forming an outer surface 312 thereof. Preferably, the ball310, like the balls 10, 110, and 210, is substantially hollow. As withthe balls 110 and 210, there are preferably 72 planar regions 311,including 60 hexagonal regions 311A and 12 pentagonal regions 311B. Araised seam 313 extends generally around a circumference of the ball 310between borders of a portion of the planar regions 311. A plurality ofconcave divots 314 are formed in the outer surface 312. The shape of thedivots 314 generally corresponds to the shape of the planar regions 311in which they are formed. For example, hexagonal divots 314A are formedin the hexagonal regions 311A and pentagonal divots 314B are formed inthe pentagonal regions 311B.

In the depicted embodiment, one divot 314 is generally centered in eachof the planar regions 311. Alternately, divots could be selectivelyomitted from some planar regions 311. For example, divots could beomitted from some or all of the pentagonal regions 311B. Additionally,the divots could be made larger or smaller. For example, each divotcould extend almost to the intersections with adjacent regions. Divotscould also be located off center and/or extend onto more than one planarregion.

Unlike the divots 214, which have a slopping transition from theirrespective regions 211, the divots 314 have a stepped transition fromtheir respective regions 311, although the present invention is notnecessarily limited to a particular transition type.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because suchwords are used for description purposes herein and are intended to bebroadly construed. Moreover, the embodiments of the apparatusillustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope ofthe invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of playing a baseball game comprising:throwing a plastic baseball, the plastic baseball including a hollowplastic shell, an outer surface of the shell being composed of aplurality of solid planar surfaces, every one of the plurality of solidplanar surfaces directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of theplurality of solid planer surfaces such that all boundaries between thedirectly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces areconvex and a number and arrangement of the plurality of solid planarsurfaces being sufficient to allow the plastic baseball, upon beingthrown at a flat surface, to rebound from the flat surface at an anglevisually imperceptible from that which a spherical ball having adiameter and weight equal to that of the plastic baseball would reboundfrom an identical flat surface after having been thrown at the identicalflat surface in a manner identical to the plastic baseball; whereinthrowing the plastic baseball includes imparting a spin thereto suchthat the plastic baseball curves during flight.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the plastic baseball is thrown with spin such that theplastic baseball rises during flight.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinevery one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces is directly adjoinedby at least another four of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. 4.The method of claim 3, wherein there are more than 50 solid planarsurfaces.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plastic baseball isthrown toward a batter.
 6. A method of enhancing the curvecharacteristics of a plastic baseball, the method comprising: formingthe plastic baseball from a hollow plastic shell composed of a pluralityof solid planar surfaces such that every one of the plurality of solidplanar surfaces directly adjoins multiple adjacent ones of the pluralityof solid planer surfaces, and all boundaries between the directlyadjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces are convex. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein every one of the plurality of solidplanar surfaces is directly adjoined by at least another four of theplurality of solid planar surfaces.